The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe for DS follows the storyline of C.S. Lewis’ book. The evil White Witch has enslaved all of Narnia in eternal winter, and only Aslan the lion and a human foursome can break the Witch’s spell. The game follows the visual interpretation of the 2005 movie, so Mr. Tumnus looks like the movie’s Mr. Tumnus, Aslan looks like Aslan, and so on. The game has you re-enacting all of Narnia’s key scenes, as well as a number of new side quests unique to this version of the video game. In the end analysis, however, “Wardrobe” on the DS is a sluggish and mindless experience that lacks the sparkle of
its source material.

The DS version of “Wardrobe” is an action-RPG. Basically, you run around, kill monsters, and develop the four Pevensie children into powerful warriors. Slain monsters drop ice shards which can be spent on better weapons, armor, or “banners”. During your adventures you will encounter friendly Narnian animals and mythical creatures. If you talk to them politely and do favors for them, they will eventually join you and Aslan in battle under their species’ “banner”. These animals will also teach you new “talents”, such as healing abilities for Lucy or the ability to
shatter boulders. As the children gain experience from battle, you can assign them with “virtue points” that eventually turn the Pevensies into an unstoppable team who topple giants and cyclops with ease.

In an effort to make the game more exciting the makers of this game have invented more monsters, more dungeons, and more action to fill in the gaps between the more familiar scenes. If you’ve already seen the movie or read the books you’ll find a lot of fresh material here that integrates nicely with C.S. Lewis’ ideas. But while the books and movies left the Pevensie children defenseless until the final battle, this game puts you in the thick of battle from the very
start. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy do indeed enter the fantasy world of Narnia unarmed and clad only in fur coats, but almost instantly this game provides them with weapons and armor to combat the White Witch’s wolves, dwarves, and minotaurs.

This game has a LOT more combat than the movie. True, the movie’s violence was more graphic and in-your-face, but this video game is a war zone from start to finish. The Pevensie children constantly hack and slash at their enemies with weapons, and those enemies cry out in pain before dying and vanishing in a green swirl of magic. You also have to “duel” some of the friendly animals to earn their respect. This game is not going to give anyone nightmares because the action is viewed from afar, but there the violence was frequent enough to earn an ESRB rating of E-10 (appropriate for Everyone age 10 and up).

The fighting itself is rather mindless. Most of the enemies can be defeated with the same button-mashing strategy. And while there are many unique skills to be learned, there aren’t too many reasons why you’d actually need to use them. There are about 12 dungeons to be explored, but they are little more than dark brown mazes littered with monsters. Exploration is a chore, due to the lack of a world map that lets you see how the different areas connect. The dungeons have no maps at all. You will wander, wander again, and wander some more.

Another problem with this game is that it takes WAY too long to collect money. Defeated enemies drop only 1 ice shard (Narnian currency), or if you’re lucky you might a whopping 3 ice shards! Saving up to buy new equipment or ally banners takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r, and if you decide to upgrade, you can’t sell your old equipment for cash. It disappears from your inventory, lost forever. The currency problem artificially extends the game’s length to about twice as long as it should be. Boring.

Fortunately, this is a pretty good-looking DS game with some nice art design. The Stone Table looks just like it did in the movie, and the forests are full of crooked trees who will grab your characters and throw them to the ground. Everything is animated very well, with the exception of the Pevensies, who look like they’re running in slow motion. Actually, they are running in slo-mo. And that’s the main problem with this game. The animation has been so painstakingly
crafted that the gameplay slows down to accommodate the animation. Once you start your sword-swinging animation you have to sit there and watch your character run through it to the end. You can’t interrupt the flow of the animation, which is simply ridiculous when you want to turn around and whack an enemy who is closing in on you from behind.

The music is rather lovely. The DS is capable of playing orchestrated music, so it’s kind of disappointing that this game uses MIDI, but these compositions are still pleasing to the ears. It would have been nice if the animals actually spoke verbally, but the well-written text is decent enough, I suppose.

There is some commendable material. The Narnian animals will take offense if you speak to them rudely or show indiscretion, so you really have to be diplomatic in between all of the monster-killing. Politeness, kindness, and wisdom aren’t exactly essential to your success since you can basically strong-arm your way to the end, but such Christlike virtues help in your search for allies.

It’s worth noting that Mr. Lewis’ Christian allegory made it into the game intact. Aslan is ultimately the Savior of Narnia on the DS, just as Jesus is our Savior. But while these spiritual themes were featured prominently in the movie and book, they really lose their impact in this action-oriented game. It’s like, “Oh, Aslan died. Rats. Oh well, he wasn’t much help anyway. Let’s go slay some more wraiths and goblins.” The focus is on the battling Pevensies, while Aslan is pushed aside for most of the game.

Overall, “Wardrobe” is a pretty average video game interpretation of the movie. It’s the kind of
Action-RPG that keeps you hooked while you’re playing it, but after powering down there’s little motivation to come back later and finish what you started. Control needs to be tighter and everything needs to move faster. “Wardrobe” was a passable choice back when it was the only Action-RPG on DS, but today there are much better games to choose from. Perhaps the upcoming “Prince Caspian” will provide a more satisfying adventure in Narnia?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Spotlight review are those of the reviewer (both ratings and recommendations), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Eden Communications or the Christian Answers Network.

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KelseyJanuary 1, 2009

I have the game and it is fun to play. My one problem is I can’t figure out how to climb tall peak. The eagle wants you to climb it and I have no clue how to! It is a stone pillar and he wants you to climb it eith your bare hands! You can’t jump or anything in the game!If anyone knows how, it would be greatly appreciated.

alexJanuary 17, 2009

@Kelsey: the peak is right above the beavers home, go there and you’ll see a vine going up just climb that and you’ll get to the top then go talk with the eagle.

KelseyJanuary 22, 2009

I was at the beaver’s home and there are green vines but I can’t climb it so could you be more specific? Do you just walk up to it and you automatically climb it?

AmandaJanuary 31, 2009

@Kelsey: There is a long root hanging down it looks like tree roots just stand in front of it and push up and you will start climbing it.

AmandaJanuary 31, 2009

@alex: Yeah Alex, the new cave for him is behind the water fall on the right side if your looking at your DS what you will do is walk up to the big water fall and you will press to the left and you will go into it. Amanda

AmandaJanuary 31, 2009

Kelsey, the vine you are looking for is not at beaver’s home it is on a tall rock. Location is at Beaver’s river, if you go to the top left of your screen you will see the little section or pocket well there is a squirrel in there next to the squirrel you will see the vine that looks like a tree. stand in front of it and press up and you will climb it…. good luck. Amanda

KelseyFebruary 1, 2009

Thanks so much Amanda! That was the only thing I had left except for the giant, but I can’t get the food to him because Susan has to try to get through the Witch’s Courtyard by herself. Oh well I’ll keep trying! Thanks buches! Have you totally defeated the game?

AmandaFebruary 1, 2009

Hi Kelsey, No I have not defeated the game yet…. You need to go in and get the cheat codes for the life and other stuff and it will make it easier for you to get through the hard area’s. You will enter the codes in at the main before you pick to load game. You just do the codes and it will take. You will find that it is so much easier to get through the game,lol….. I had to start all over because if you don’t do some of the quest before it turns to spring you can’t go on, which sucks…. good luck and You can ask for help at anytime. Amanda

We don’t want to spoil the game for any one who might be reading the review.

Thanks!

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